VIJAYAWADA: Speakers at the round table on the protection of Swaraj Maidan organised by the Taxpayers Association here on Thursday demanded that the State Government roll back its plan of constructing City Square at the place.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, former Agriculture Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao said that for many decades Swaraj Maidan has been the centre for political, literary and cultural events and a playground for the youth. He wondered why the State Government was keen on developing a park at Swaraj Maidan when it should instead be focussing on developing 126 parks under the VMC which are in a bad shape. Even as the lack of open spaces is being felt in the city, the decision to build citysquare has hit children and elderly alike. Vadde demanded that the State Government roll back its proposal to convert the ground into a park as there would hardly be any open space left for industrial exhibitions.
The conversion of Swaraj Maidan into a park is a bitter pill to swallow for everyone, CPM capital region committee convener Ch Babu Rao said. Swaraj Maidan has a special place in the hearts of people for its ideal location and annual activities. He also demanded that the government pay attention to pressing issues than “convert existing things for personal use”.
Taxpayers Association general secretary MV Anjaneyulu meanwhile said Vijayawada must be “left as it is” and added that he couldn’t imagine it turning into a concrete jungle like Hyderabad. Swarajya Maidan is a prominent place and the government should leave it as it is as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is planning to construct Amaravati Square in capital region. If the project materialises, then what is the need for constructing another one in Vijayawada wasting crores of rupees of public money, he questioned.
Association president V Sambi Reddy, former MLA and YSR Congress Party leader Vellampalli Srinivas and others also spoke at the meeting.